Using battery-powered nodes in a mesh network

Abstract

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type; activating the first node at a predefined interval to detect the presence of a message of the communication type in a transmission from a second node in the mesh network; continuing to activate the first node at the predefined interval if the transmission from the second node does not conform to the associated communication type of the first node; activating the first node beyond the predefined interval if the associated communication type is detected in the transmission from the second node; and receiving a message at the first node from the second node following detection of the associated communication type.

1. A method of configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node includes a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy, the method comprising:
 transmitting a message beam to the repeater node, wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the repeater node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data: 
 indicating that the repeater node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; and 
 causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the constant powered mesh network node is powered by an AC power source. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the constant powered mesh network node is powered by a DC power source. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node is powered by a battery source. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the constant powered mesh network node is a wakeup destination. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein a configuration facility is used to configure the constant powered mesh network node. 
     
     
       7. A method comprising:
 associating a first node in a mesh network with a communication type, wherein the first node includes a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period; 
 transmitting a message beam to the first node from a second node, wherein a duration of the message beam length exceeds the time period that the first node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating: 
 (i) that the first node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; 
 (ii) that the transmitted message is of the communication type; 
 activating the first node at predefined intervals to detect a transmission from the second node in the mesh network; 
 activating the first node beyond the predefined intervals when the transmission contains a preamble indicating that the message is of the communication type; and 
 receiving a transmitted message at the first node from the second node following detection that the transmission contains the preamble. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first node is powered by a battery. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the mesh network includes a battery-powered node. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a device. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a capacitor that is further associated with the device. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the battery-powered node is associated with a rechargeable battery that is further associated with the device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first node is associated with a node ID. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 7 , wherein a node in the mesh network is associated with data indicating which nodes in the mesh network are battery-powered. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communication type is identified based at least in part on data in a message preamble pattern. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the message preamble includes route information. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the message is transmitted through the mesh network using a flooding algorithm. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the activation of the first node beyond the predefined interval enables it to receive a plurality of messages prior to deactivating. 
     
     
       19. A system comprising:
 a configuration facility for configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node is a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period to conserve energy; 
 a transmitting facility for transmitting a message beam to the repeater node, wherein a duration of the message beam exceeds the time period that the repeater node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data: 
 indicating that the repeater node is to remain powered in order to 
 
       receive a message; and
 a causation facility for causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up. 
 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information relating to the network topology is stored in a central network topology server. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration information relating to the network topology is stored in a Static Update Controller. 
     
     
       22. A method of: configuring a constant powered mesh network node to control a configuration of an intermittently powered mesh network node, wherein the intermittently powered mesh network node is a repeater node that periodically powers down for a time period, the method comprising:
 transmitting a message beam to the repeater node, wherein the duration of the message beam exceeds the time period that the repeater node is powered down, and wherein the message beam contains a preamble with data indicating that the repeater node is to remain powered up in order to receive a message; 
 causing the intermittently powered mesh network node to request configuration information relating to a network topology from the constant powered mesh network node when the intermittently powered mesh network node powers up; and 
 using the configuration information relating to the network topology to transmit the message to an electronic device in a home control system, wherein a route path used for the transmission includes, at least in part, the repeater node. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the communication type relates to the configuration of an electronic device in a home control system.